EPHYS 001 PHYSICS FOR ENGINEER 1

Topic: MOMENTUM, IMPULSE and COLLISION

Intended Learning Outcomes:
1. Define and explain the concept of momentum and impulse.
2. Discuss how momentum is conserved.
3. Illustrate momentum conservation in elastic and inelastic collision.
4. Solve worded problems involving momentum, impulse and collision.

 is a fundamental law of physics which states that the

momentum of a system is constant if there are no external
MOMENTUM forces acting on the system.
 Linear Momentum of a particle is defined to be the product of
the mass and velocity of the particle:

 For two interacting particles, the forces between them are

where : = momentum vector equal and opposite.

m = mass
= velocity vector

 Momentum is a vector quantity

 Momentum and velocity vectors point in the same direction. (p1f – p1i)+ (p2f – p2i) = 0
 SI unit for momentum: kg·m/s p1f + p2f = p1i+ p2i
 Momentum is a conserved quantity (this will be proven later). p1i + p2i = p1f+ p2f
 A net force is required to change a body’s momentum. m1 v1i + m2v2i =m1 v1f + m2v2f
 Momentum is directly proportional to both mass and speed.
 Something big and slow could have the same momentum as
Sample Problem 2
something small and fast.

Sample Problem 1

According to Newton's second law, force is the time rate of change Non-Isolated System
of the momentum If a system is not isolated, then the total system momentum is not
conserved.

Isolated System
A system is a collection of two or more objects. An isolated system is
a system that is free from the influence of a net external force that
IMPULSE
♥ Impulse equals the change in momentum
alters the momentum of the system. For such, total system
momentum is conserved.
Conservation of Momentum

TIP QC - Math and Physics Department Phys 001 (Calculus-Based Physics 1) Momentum, Impulse and CollisionCharo M. Consolacion
 Sample Problem 3

Sample Problem 5
A 1800 kg car stopped at a traffic light is struck from the rear by a
900 kg car, and the two become entangled. If the smaller car was
Solution:
traveling with a speed of 20 m/s before this inelastic collision, what
is the common velocity of the two cars as they move together after
the collision?

Solution:

COLLISION
☼ represents an event during which two particles come close to Collision in Two Dimensions:
each other and interact by means of forces.
m1 v1ix + m2v2ix =m1 v1fx + m2v2fx
Elastic Inelastic Perfectly m1 v1iy + m2v2iy =m1 v1fy + m2v2fy
Collision Collision Inelastic
Collision Sample Problem 5
Total kinetic The same Different Different A 1,500-kg car traveling east with a speed of 25.0 m/s collides at an
energy of the intersection with a 2,500-kg van traveling north at a speed of 20.0
system before m/s. Find the direction and magnitude of the velocity of the
and after wreckage after the collision, assuming that the vehicles undergo a
collision perfectly inelastic collision (that is, they stick together).
Total The same The same The same
momentum of
the system
before and
after collision
Examples Collision Collision of Collision of
between rubber ball meteorite and
atomic and and wall Earth
subatomic
particles
Diagram

Formula m1 v1i + m2v2i

=(m1 + m2)vf
v1i-v2i=-(v1f-v2f)

Sample Problem 4

TIP QC - Math and Physics Department Phys 001 (Calculus-Based Physics 1) Momentum, Impulse and CollisionCharo M. Consolacion